PROJECTS
Simon works closely with schools and authorities on longer projects with the core aim of using poetry as a platform for learning through rich, targeted experiences.
SCALING MOUNTAINS
2024
Simon says . . .
As author-in-residence at St Andrew's Academy, Paisley, as part of the Live Literature School Residencies programme by Scottish Book Trust, it was my pleasure to work with S1 students and staff, exploring mountains — and mountains of the mind. We climbed Conic Hill near Loch Lomond and – after exploring a variety of poetic styles and techniques – we wrote tanka poetry inspired by our experiences, bound and released together in a small pamphlet. Glorious!
ARRAN:
AN ISLAND OF POEMS
2024
Simon says . . .
Getting to live on an island on the west coast of Scotland for a whole week and spread the joy of poetry around all its schools?! Yes, please! Every student from P4–S3 (plus some seniors) wrote a poem inspired by an outdoors place on the island, with all the poems then combined in a finished binder and library display. Magic.
CLIMATE CLASSROOM
& SHELF LIFE
2024
Simon says . . .
Using the concept of "Climate Action Towns" as a grounding, this library-based project saw upper-primary school students writing short place-based poetry in an effort to make folk care about local places. Why? Because we act when we care.
VELCRO POETRY
2023
Simon says . . .
Velcro Poetry returns and it's bigger and better than ever before! It's a privilege to be engaging with many hundreds of Primary 7s across North Ayrshire on this grand adventure of words and their power to stick. It's a poetry intervention with deep meaning . . . and it's a ton of fun.
OFF THE PAGE
2023 & 2024
Simon says . . .
The aim of this project was to reignite school visits to local libraries. I worked closely with schools, libraries and fellow artists in North Ayrshire to develop a programme taking words "off the page". A highlight for me was designing and delivering an interactive workshop on poetry appreciation, something new and very fun!
VELCRO POETRY
2022
Simon says . . .
My biggest project to date, I designed and delivered a four week programme to schools across North Ayrshire (P5–S3) with a mental health focus, using poetry as a platform for positive words and self-exploration. I also created legacy resources for the project to continue into the future. I gave Velcro Poetry everything. Why? The answer is simple. Because words stick.
STOORIE STORIES
2021
Simon says . . .
Working in close collaboration with a team of talented creatives – singer David Douglas, actor Caitlin Fielding, poet Tracy Harvey and singer/songwriter Carol Laula – I devised and delivered poetry inputs inspired by three local history topics, as part of a virtual school project (S1) during lockdown, and edited an anthology of work by students in the participating school, Garnock Community Campus.
UNICORN FAIR
2021
Simon says . . .
North Ayrshire Council commissioned me to write a new poem in Scots and Gaelic inspired by Scotland's national animal: the unicorn. The commission was also prompted by Lindsay Littleson's book "Guardians of the Wild Unicorns". The poem was then used as a stimulus for new art to be created by students across the council, and the resulting pieces were displayed as part of a beautiful banner that toured schools.
WE ARE THE WORDS
2019
Simon says . . .
I worked with four P5–6 classes in St Leonards Junior School in Fife over a period of four weeks, with each student writing four short poems per weekly session. The work produced was joyous and a little magical. I then edited an anthology featuring one poem from each participant. My first long-term project and one of which I am extremely proud.
